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A review by rereadsromance
Before Us by Jewel E. Ann
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved Before Us, it was angsty goodness, but I have beef with the last 10% of the story, before the sweet epilogue.
I cannot believe I am saying this, because I hate cliffhangers, but I feel this book could have been a duology. Zach and Emersyn went through so much and the ending just seemed rushed.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD (even though all of this is mentioned in the book synopsis):
Zach is a widower and grieving the death of his wife, his marriage of convenience to Emersyn brings up a lot of conflicting feelings in him; it's understandable. However, I needed him to do a bit more groveling in the end to convince Emersyn that this time he was ready to be with her, that his love would not be overshadowed with guilt over his dead wife.
I needed Zach to do more to prove himself because Emersyn constantly put herself out there, risking her heart, and he slapped it away a few too many times. His rushed reunion with Emersyn left me feeling a bit dissatisfied in the end.
That being said, I love Jewel E. Ann's writing; it either breaks my heart or pushes me out of my comfort zone, often times both. Before Us was no exception.
Overall Ratings: Zach 3/5, Emersyn 5/5, Before Us 4/5
I cannot believe I am saying this, because I hate cliffhangers, but I feel this book could have been a duology. Zach and Emersyn went through so much and the ending just seemed rushed.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD (even though all of this is mentioned in the book synopsis):
Zach is a widower and grieving the death of his wife, his marriage of convenience to Emersyn brings up a lot of conflicting feelings in him; it's understandable. However, I needed him to do a bit more groveling in the end to convince Emersyn that this time he was ready to be with her, that his love would not be overshadowed with guilt over his dead wife.
I needed Zach to do more to prove himself because Emersyn constantly put herself out there, risking her heart, and he slapped it away a few too many times. His rushed reunion with Emersyn left me feeling a bit dissatisfied in the end.
That being said, I love Jewel E. Ann's writing; it either breaks my heart or pushes me out of my comfort zone, often times both. Before Us was no exception.
Overall Ratings: Zach 3/5, Emersyn 5/5, Before Us 4/5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death